Abang Adik

Q&A with Jin Ong

Undocumented orphans Abang and Adi adopted each other as brothers growing up. Their bond is inseparable, yet they couldn’t be more different. The slightly older and deaf Abang is an altruistic do-gooder while Adi is an unrestrained rascal. Abang tries to walk the straight and narrow while their social worker strives to get them the documentation they need to move their lives forward. Adi, however, gets involved in the fatal treachery of immigrant smuggling. When his pent-up aggression leads to an unspeakable act, he’s roped in and the brothers’ fates are sealed. Director Jin Ong’s remarkable award-winning debut achieves the verisimilitude and pathos of neorealism while offering a rare glimpse into Malaysian street life.